What does the acronym CPR stand for?

CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

It is an emergency procedure used when a person is unresponsive and not breathing normally, especially during cardiac arrest. Chest compressions push blood through the heart and circulation, helping deliver limited oxygen to the brain and other vital organs until normal circulation can be restored.

Traditional CPR combines chest compressions with rescue breaths. For many untrained bystanders responding to an adult sudden cardiac arrest, hands-only CPR—continuous chest compressions without mouth-to-mouth ventilation—is recommended when appropriate. An automated external defibrillator may also be needed because CPR alone usually does not correct a dangerous heart rhythm.

Modern CPR developed from the combination of external chest compression and artificial ventilation. Researchers including James Jude, William Kouwenhoven, Peter Safar, and Guy Knickerbocker helped establish the technique in the late 1950s and early 1960s. A common mistake is treating “resuscitation” as synonymous with restarting the heart: CPR mainly buys time by maintaining partial circulation.